A historic city courthouse will be transformed into a civic center known as “The District” through an ambitious renovation proposal put forth by the Downtown Taunton Foundation.

The Downtown Taunton Foundation (DTF) was successful in its $70,000 bid for the former First District Courthouse on Court Street, after the Bristol County government put the building on the market last month. The nonprofit hopes to start work on the building — including the construction of an elevator shaft and the installation of a heating system — in fall 2013.

The goal is to turn the second floor of the building into a multi-function space, serving as both a theatre and event hall, for all local arts groups and organizations to use, with the first floor maintained as offices for local businesses to rent. DTF plans to invest at least $900,000 in the building, but the project is contingent on funding from the state’s Historic Preservation Fund, the Cultural Facilities Fund and the Mass Cultural Council.

“There is no large venue downtown and it’s been talked about for a long time that we need a place like this,” said Teri Bernert, executive director of DTF. “That it can be in a historic building is event better. People are excited we are restoring that building and preserving it.”

DTF has put together various proposed floor plans for the second floor, with different seating arrangements and stage set-ups. Some of the set-ups would feature tables for dining. The largest capacity seating proposed, with only seats and no tables, is 264.

“It’s actually a beautiful space already,” Bernert said. “It’s got a vaulted wood-panel ceiling and the windows are in good shape.”

Each floor has 5,000 square feet of space. Bernert said the DTF is working with a local contractor called Premiere Construction along with Clearwater Architects to renovate the place.

“I think the general consensus for those looking at the space is that we want it to be functional, but we also, as much as possible, would like to preserve the character of the space,” said Elisa Scully, president of DTF’s board of directors.

When guests come to the second floor of the proposed theatre and event center, they would first go through a lobby area with restrooms on one side, Bernert said.

On the other side of the lobby is a door would be a 400-square-foot theatre lounge area with the court-related term “The Sidebar” as its proposed name, featuring a bar, concession stand and a kitchen out back for local caterers to use. The proposed theatre lounge was once a judge’s chamber, and elements from the judge’s chamber will be incorporated, such as the judge’s bench being used as the bar, Bernert said.

“It’s a beautiful wooden bench,” said Bernert, explaining that the space could be used for a cocktail hour or for drinks and snacks during intermission.

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“With the name ‘The District,’ we are kind of hinting at the arts district, the business district and the district court,” Scully said. “A lot of people in the community know the building and love the building and have seen it. It’s a part of downtown and we want to continue that.”

Scully said that DTF has already produced a proposed logo for “The District,” featuring columns from the portico of the Greek Revival-style building originally constructed in 1826. The building, located at 15 Court St., also features a cupola on the roof.

Scully said some of the nice benches in the courtroom that remained may be used for some seating in the theatre space. But she said most of the seats would not be permanently fixed, to provide flexibility and different layouts for different events.

“We really want to the space to be multi-function for arts groups, civic events, private functions, meetings,” Scully said. “The plan is to keep it as flexible as possible.”

There will several offices available for rent on the first floor, with a shared conference room and copy room, Bernert said. It will also be possible for one business to rent the entire first floor, Bernert said.

The office space requires less work than the second floor, Bernert said.

Scully said that DTF is now brainstorming about what types of groups and performers could use the theatre and event center. She said that DTF were contracted to conduct a survey through Mass Cultural Council funds, to help reach out to find out what kind of arts entertainment the public would like to see at the new performance center.

“We’ve been brainstorming,” she said. “Ideally it’ll be a mix of local groups, and maybe some bigger name outside groups. Certainly we are open to any use the community needed, like film screenings, college classes, comedy night would be fun too, coffee houses. The possibilities are only limited by what people in the community would want to initiate. We really would want it to be what community wants.”

A walk-through tour of the building is tentatively planned planned of the building for Jan. 24, to allow DTF and its partners, along with community arts groups and artists, to give their ideas on the redesign. DTF said it will be reaching out to invite local groups to the event.